Ask HN: If you could work remote where would you live?

I may be the only person left who loves San Francisco. Just got back from biking from my house through Golden Gate Park past the De Young and Cal Academy to Cliff House and down Ocean Beach. There was sunshine and people were outside. In different circumstances, there are people dancing on roller skates, learning tango, and skateboarding. Near our house there is a great Russian Bakery, tons of Chinese restaurants on Clement, Green Apple Books, Irish Bars.

Walk North and you are in the Presidio and see the Golden Gate Bridge. Walk West and you are at the Legion of Honor or Lands End and watching the sun set over the Ocean. Walk East and I can hit up a hip hop or funk night at the Boom Boom Room or go to the Fillmore. You can dance at Madrone Art Bar or see an indie rock show at the Independent on Divisadero. Walk a few blocks South and you are in the Panhandle walking by some beautiful Victorians, then stop and catch some jazz at Club Deluxe. Walk a little more and go up Corona Heights or Tank Hill and you have breathtaking panoramic views of the city. Or head down to some of the pubs in the Lower Haight. And that's just within a 2 mile radius. For some reason, everyone focuses on the Tenderloin and SoMa though. The city has major problems, but there is also so much to enjoy.

I have made many interesting and creative friends here who are from all over the world. I get to work on mobile games, but there are many other opportunities around. Among my coworkers are digital artists and painters, musicians, engineers, hip hop dancers, drag show performers, people who party all night in the Castro, a muay Thai boxer, mixologists, and more interests than I can list.

I lived in Seattle, Portland, and Austin over the previous 2 decades -- all great places -- but still find myself happier in SF.

Not far north of Auckland - Tawharanui peninsula, Mangawhai, etc. On a large rural mansion (preferably with ocean view). All easily achievable with about $1m USD (interest rates are great atm to). The thing to watch out is "rates" aka taxes and maintenance (ocean water does etch a bit). Downside is NZ is quite boring from cultural perspective (but super fun for boating, fishing, hunting, etc - I think most city dwellers don't realise how much of it's here). The other problem is visiting family in Europe means it's nearly 10k a year for business flights. Plus winters here aren't particularly pleasant either. I'd rather be in northern hemisphere for longer days mainly.

Right now we're a in a similar situation, albeit renting sharing with flatmates. Auckland/Airport is just 20-60 minutes away if need to. Marina is just 15 minutes away. Internet is not excellent but 60mbps VDSL is enough. Maybe 5G will change that.

On longer term - offshore cruising. I recon there might be a boom of that once Starlink constellation is operational and finally sat net is affordable for smaller boats. Big decision here is whether it's catamaran (2.5x living area, 3x cost, 2x speed, 2x maintenance, 2x comfort) or monohull (2x safety, 1.5x versatility).

Japan is out there too. They've recently announced visa programme for startups so immigration options might be more feasible. That said I've got spoiled by rural living and Japan is incredibly dense so no idea how big of a house I could find there. Also I'd move far north as summers in Tokyo etc seem unbearable.

I grew up in the Nashville area. I've thought about moving back there from the West coast. I have nostalgia from my childhood, but I'm also hesitant to move back for a few reasons:

1. Weather

2. Transportation

3. Discrimination

The climate in the Nashville area was very hot in the summer and damn cold in the winter. My family wasn't very well off. I had a Wal-Mart coat that wasn't so great. I remember freezing my ass standing at the bus stop every morning to get to school, and being a dumb kid, I thought that was "normal", as in, I didn't know that you can have warmer jackets or clothes to stay warm.

Growing up in Nashville (K-12), I literally believed people of my skin color and origin were actually inferior to white people. The South can be hospitable, and I don't mean to generalize. Regardless, the folks who don't want to welcome you are very clear about that and have the loudest voices. One of my best friends in high school wasn't allowed to come over my house. I certainly won't accept my children having to deal with that non-sense. In grade school and middle school, I was bullied often and being the only non-white and non-black kid, it was sort of like being treated as a pariah.

This was all back in the 90's to 2000's. I don't mind living in the West coast, and I think my current city is amazing except that housing is extremely expensive.

Nashville and the surrounding areas are a beautiful place. I assume they've become more progressive in the past 25 years, but I don't know. Unfortunately, the "God fearing Christian/Real Americans terrify me.

> He keeps pointing out that if we all sold our houses in California we could buy a mega-compound in Oklahoma.

I hear one opened up in Plano that might be just right for you!

I'm European; So I can live anywhere in Europe essentially.

I'm pretty sure it would be Talinn, Estonia. Everyone there has a high competence with English, the entire society is built with "online first" and usually offered in three languages.

It has a good economy, is friendly and has reasonable social policies and a lovely wilderness.

Bit cold in the winter though. :)